Shkodran Mustafi conceded it is a challenge to avoid the gossip surrounding Arsene Wenger
Wenger is yet to announce whether he will extend his over 20-year stint as Arsenal boss when his current contract expires at the end of the season.
The Frenchman insists uncertainty over his future hasn’t set the Gunners off on a poor run of form for.
But Germany World Cup winner Mustafi conceded it is a challenge to avoid the gossip surrounding Wenger.
"It is difficult, but we are professionals," he said.
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Arsene Wenger is out of contract at the end of the season
"We are not only paid for playing football but to be professional as well. It's part of our job to have a little bit thicker skin.
"But in the days that we live in now, it is difficult because you see it everywhere, on TV, then you have social media where you see a lot of things.
“Sometimes you don't want to see it, even when you want to just text with friends or look at pictures that your family posted or whatever.
"You get to see pictures that maybe you don't want to see and then you read them and it might give you a bit of thinking that you should not think about.
"We're professionals and we get paid for that as well, to be professional on that part as well, not only on the pitch."
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Shkodran Mustafi celebrates his goal against Man City on Sunday
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Wenger has yet to publicly announce a decision on his future - despite saying he’d made his mind up.
Mustafi, whose Arsenal side face West Ham at the Emirates tonight, added: "The most important thing is to close the ears and focus ourselves on what's happening on the pitch, on details.
"It is nice for everyone to talk about the manager and our situation because, let's face it, this is why football is big.
"He (Wenger) has been here for 20 years. He knows what he has to do.
“Now it is us players who have to go on the pitch and bring the performance - that's all we have to focus on.”